Suitcase

ABSTRACT

In a suitcase ( 1 ) comprising two articulately joined case shells ( 2, 3 ), the case shells ( 2, 3 ) being closable with a closing means ( 4 ) on frame elements arranged at the edges of the case shells ( 2, 3 ), it is provided that at least one case shell ( 2, 3 ) is at least partly made of a transparent plastic material and a space for receiving a sheet ( 10 ) with an illustration thereon is provided behind the transparent part of the case shell ( 2, 3 ).

This is a 371 of PCT/EP04/04421 filed Apr. 27, 2004 which claimspriority to German Application 20306647.2, filed Apr. 28, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention refers to a suitcase as defined in the preamble of claim1.

Such shell suitcases, whose case shells are preferably made of plasticmaterial or metal and which are hinged together at one edge of the caseshells, are known. Frame elements are provided at the edges of the caseshells, which have a closing means for closing the suitcase. Further,suitcases with two case shells are known that have a zipper as theclosing means. The zipper may additionally be provided with a lock.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a suitcase of the typementioned above, wherein at least one of the major surfaces of thesuitcase can be individually designed by the user.

This object is solved according to the invention by providing that atleast one case shell is at least partly made of a transparent plasticmaterial and that a space for receiving a sheet with an image thereon isprovided behind the transparent part of the case shell. The inventionadvantageously allows to use the case shell individually in the mannerof a quick change picture frame by inserting a sheet with a photographor a graphic illustration thereon. The transparent part of the caseshell is preferably located on the major surface of the case shell. Theuser may then individually provide the suitcase with a company name,advertising or an image. The owner of the suitcase may design one orboth case shells according to his own individual ideas. Of course, it isalso possible to not insert a sheet into the above space, the suitcasethen showing the usual design.

Preferably, it is provided that at least one case shell has an outershell and an inner shell, the respective outer shell being at leastpartly made of transparent plastic material. Preferably, the outer shellis entirely made of transparent plastic material, yet may be transparentonly in parts thereof. The transparent outer shell supports the sheetinserted into the space so that the practical properties of the suitcaseare not impaired.

The outer shell and/or the inner shell is/are surrounded by the frameelement of the respective case shell. It is preferred that both shellsof the respective case shell are surrounded, however, it is basicallyalso possible to have only the outer shell or the inner shell besurrounded by the frame element.

If the inner shell is surrounded by the frame element, a punched cut ispreferably made in the inner shell to facilitate the insertion of asheet into the space.

The punched cut defines a supporting surface of the inner shell that canreceive the sheet with an image thereon. Here, the punched cut is madesuch that the supporting surface remains integrally connected with theinner shell along a straight edge. The straight edge allows to pivot thesupporting surface so as to be able to insert the sheet into the spaceand to position it on the supporting surface.

The inner shell is preferably covered by an inner lining that is atleast partly removable. Due to the inner lining's being at least partlyremovable, the sheet can be inserted into the space. Because of theinner lining, the interior design of the suitcase does not differ fromthat of a normal suitcase.

Preferably, the case shells are made of polycarbonate.

The frame elements of the case shells may be made of plastic material ormetal.

In a preferred embodiment, the frame elements are formed by a weltribbon that encompasses the edge of the case shell and is sewn togetherwith a zipper, acting as the closing means, and the edge.

The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the inventionwith reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the suitcase of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the removable sheet.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a suitcase designed according to theinvention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a case shell according to FIG.1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a suitcase 1 with two case shells 2,3 joined byhinges at the bottom of the suitcase so as to be able to open an uppercase shell 3. The edge of the case shells 2, 3 is provided with aclosing means 4 in the form of a zipper that is sewn to the edges of thecase shells 2, 3 together with welt ribbons 5 a, 5 b.

FIG. 3 shows the lower edge provided with a hinge element 20 with whichthe two case shells 2, 3 are hingedly connected.

The embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrate a suitcase 1 with shellparts 2, 3 of different sizes, the larger bottom case shell 2 having ahandle 16 on the top surface of the suitcase. In addition to the handle16, a lock 18, preferably a combination lock, may be provided to whichthe pull tabs of the zipper may be attached and locked.

The case shells 2, 3, 7, 8 are preferably made of polycarbonate.

The top case shell 3 is made of a transparent outer shell 7 and an innershell 8 colored the same as the case shell 2. Both the outer shell 7 andthe inner shell 8 are sewn to the welt ribbon 5 b and the zipper. Inaddition, an inner lining 15 is fastened to the inner side of the innershell 8, the inner lining 15 being detachably fastened at least in theupper region, for example using a Velcro fastener 15 or acircumferentially extending Velcro tape.

Between the outer shell 7 and the inner shell 8, a space is providedinto which a sheet 10 with an illustration thereon may be inserted, asis best seen in FIG. 2.

To this effect, not only the inner lining 12 may be detached at the topby means of the Velcro fastener 15, but the inner shell 8 is providedwith a punched cut 9 allowing to pivot inward a part of the inner shell8 that forms a supporting surface 6 for the sheet 10, so as to be ableto insert the sheet 10 into the space, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The punched cut 9 is preferably made on three sides of the supportingsurface 6 of the inner shell 8 so that the supporting surface 6 may bepivoted about a straight edge 11 almost in the manner of a film hinge.

In FIG. 1, the illustration on the sheet 10 is visible through thetransparent outer shell 8.

The illustration on the sheet 10 may show a photograph, a graphicrepresentation, a company name or the like.

It is obvious that the punched cut may also have another shape and thatboth case shells 2, 3 may be equipped to receive a sheet 10. even thelateral faces of the case shell 2 may be designed accordingly.

In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated), it is also possible notto sew the outer shell 7 to the welt ribbon 5 b or only at the bottomedge of the suitcase, so that the outer shell 7 may be pivoted outwardwith respect to the inner shell 8. In this case, the outer shell 7 issuitably fastened to the inner shell 8 at the lateral edges and/or atthe upper edge, for example using push buttons. Also in this embodiment,a sheet 10 may be inserted between the outer shell 7 and the inner shell8.

FIG. 1 shows a suitcase wherein the case shell 2 and the outer shell 7have a horizontal groove structure 18, whereas FIG. 3 shows such asuitcase with a smooth suitcase surface.

FIG. 4 shows a cross section through des case shell 3 of the embodimentin FIG. 1, wherein the outer shell 7 has the groove structure 18. Theinner shell 8, receiving the sheet 10 on the supporting surface 6, has asmooth outer surface. The embodiment shows that a sheet 10 may beinserted even with a non planar surface of the outer shell 7.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specificallyillustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minorvariations may be made in the apparatus and method without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appendedclaims.

1. A suitcase (1) comprising: two articulately joined case shells (2,3), the case shells (2, 3) being closable by closing means (4) on frameelements (5 a, 5 b) arranged at edges of the case shells (2, 3), atleast one case shell (2, 3) being at least partly made of a transparentplastic material, at least one case shell (2, 3) having an outer shell(7) at least partly made of transparent plastic material and an innershell (8) between which a space for receiving a sheet (10) with anillustration thereon is provided behind the transparent part of the caseshell (2, 3), the inner shell (8) includes an inverted substantiallyU-shaped punched cut (9) for inserting the sheet (10) into the space,the outer shell (7) and the inner shell (8) being each enclosed by arespective one of said frame elements (5 a, 5 b) of the respective caseshells (2, 3), the punched cut (9) defining a supporting surface (6) forthe sheet, and the supporting surface (6) remains connected to the innershell (8) along a substantially straight edge (11).
 2. The suitcase asdefined in claim 1 wherein the inner shell (8) is covered by an innerlining (12) that is at least partly detachable.
 3. The suitcase asdefined in claim 1 wherein the case shells (2, 3, 7, 8) are made ofpolycarbonate.
 4. The suitcase as defined in claim 1 wherein the frameelements of the case shells (2, 3, 7, 8) are made of plastic material.5. The suitcase as defined in claim 1 wherein the frame elements (5 a, 5b) are made of a welt ribbon sewn to the edge of the case shells (2, 3,7, 8), and a zipper defining said closing means (4).
 6. The suitcase asdefined in claim 2 wherein the case shells (2, 3, 7, 8) are made ofpolycarbonate.
 7. The suitcase as defined in claim 2 wherein the frameelements of the case shells (2, 3, 7, 8) are made of plastic material.8. The suitcase as defined in claim 2 wherein the frame elements (5 a, 5b) are made of a welt ribbon sewn to the edge of the case shells (2, 3,7, 8), and a zipper defining said closing means (4).
 9. The suitcase asdefined in claim 6 wherein the frame elements of the case shells (2, 3,7, 8) are made of plastic material.
 10. The suitcase as defined in claim6 wherein the frame elements (5 a, 5 b) are made of a welt ribbon sewnto the edge of the case shells (2, 3, 7, 8), and a zipper defining saidclosing means (4).
 11. The suitcase as defined in claim 9 wherein theframe elements (5 a, 5 b) are made of a welt ribbon sewn to the edge ofthe case shells (2, 3, 7, 8), and a zipper defining said closing means(4).
 12. The suitcase as defined in claim 1 wherein said invertedsubstantially U-shaped punch cut (9) is defined by a pair of leg cutsand a bight cut therebetween, and said straight edge (11) spans said legcuts.